New Harbor Transit space unveiled

The center at 440 N. Ferry St. was rededicated in a ceremony on Friday.

The building was constructed in the 1980s and hadn’t received any major improvements until the recent $716,000 project.

Officials noted that the goal of the project was to provide a positive experience for Harbor Transit customers and the staff who work there.

The project included energy-efficient lighting and skylights, a new drivers’ room, window replacements, a new dispatch center and employee break room, improved restrooms, new storage and recordkeeping areas, a new security fence, and air quality improvements. The building also received a new coat of paint.

The agency got some help in funding the project. Swartout said the money came from the Michigan Department of Transportation and a federal grant.

In addition to building improvements, a $482,240 grant was recently awarded to Harbor Transit to purchase four new buses. This will allow the transit service to retire four older, inefficient buses from the fleet.

The transit provider also plans to enhance dispatching capabilities with a new computer system that uses GPS and electronic tracking. This will provide quicker and more cost-effective service to customers, Harbor Transit officials said.